Nationwide Insurance projections of Charley's damage

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.,one of the country's largest property and casualty insurance companies, hasreceived more than 22,000 claims in the past week for damages from HurricaneCharley. Overall, Nationwide estimates it will receive more than 50,000 claimsand losses approaching $400 million. Nationwide policyholders with storm damage should call the Nationwideclaims hotline at 1-800-421-3535 or contact their local agent. "Policyholders have reported almost 800 large loss homeowners claims --losses of $25,000 or more -- and 15,000 homeowners claims thus far," said KenEnscoe, Nationwide's director of catastrophe claims operations. Overall,Nationwide projects almost 40,000 homeowner insurance and 4,600 auto claims. Nationwide is responding to those policyholders and communities hardesthit first. Claims associates and agents are actively supporting policyholdersby providing payment for immediate living expenses and property damages. Todate, more than 8,000 checks have been issued. "Our adjustors are working around the clock, seven days a week and we havemore than 650 employees supporting our efforts," said Enscoe. "In areas wherepower or telephone access is limited, our claims associates are visitingpolicyholders even if they haven't filed a claim." The overwhelming majority of projected losses are in Florida, whereNationwide anticipates more than 50,000 claims and $377 million in losses.Nationwide is the state's third-largest property insurer, according to theFlorida Office of Insurance Regulation Web site. Nationwide insures more than 300,000 homes and nearly 305,000 vehicles in Florida.